How to do a virtual fundraiser in 2022

Why virtual fundraising needs to be a part of your fundraising toolkit

What is virtual fundraising? 

A virtual fundraising event, as opposed to a hybrid fundraiser, is one that takes place online. They encourage some form of participation from supporters online, which is why interactive elements like QR codes are effective.

You could host a virtual competition on your social media or livestream a gala with QR codes on-screen.

It’s a form of donor engagement that extends reach, increases charity interaction, and is fast to adapt to change.

You could host a virtual competition on your social media or livestream a gala. Here are 5 virtual ideas for 2022 that will make your charity events reach further.

What are the benefits of virtual fundraising for charities?

• Extends reach by connecting with donors at any time, no matter where they are. 
• Future proof campaigns which means virtual events are more likely to go ahead.
• It can run online itself so your teams and resources can be optimised.
• Flexible, adaptable and easy to edit in real-time which means your last minute changes are no longer a headache.
• Increases donor engagement by encouraging interactions with your charity.
• Streamline data collection like marketing opt-in and form fills.

What do you need for a virtual fundraiser to work?

Live-streaming tools and social media presence are the basic introductions to virtual fundraising.

For the most effective results, invest in an online charity platform that has all the tools you need to make your online event interactive. It’s how you will maintain high engagement, and how you will collect instant support like cashless donations, quiz answers and raffle submissions.

Can you give me an example?

For example, you could live-stream your event and include a QR code on-screen for supporters to scan. The QR code could link to an experience you’ve created on the platform, like a donation page.

A platform like Good Thyngs will present you with donation data in real-time, which means you could announce fundraising milestones on your live-stream and thank donors directly.

Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter created a virtual pet show competition on Facebook and used Good Thyngs to collect a cashless donation before nominating their fur friends.

“This was our first time doing a virtual pet show. This year we raised about the same amount as an in-person show, but for less work because the event was virtual. Basically, it ran itself! The process took about 30 minutes to set up on Good Thyngs.

We would definitely do this again and look forward to many more creative events in the future.” said Beth Codling, Relationship Manager at Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter.

Getting started

Incorporating a cashless donation experience to your virtual events is a great start. You can get up and running straight away via Good Thyngs Core.

Be ready with hybrid fundraising in 2022: A blend of in-person and virtual events 

Once you have some virtual fundraising tools up and running, you’ll be able to create a hybrid fundraising event. A hybrid fundraising event is an in-person fundraiser which supporters can also engage with virtually. It allows for the furthest reach and most inclusive accommodation of supporter needs.

Take Koestler Arts as an example of effective hybrid-virtual fundraising.The charity created a digital version of their outdoor art installation for guests to access next to artwork or online at home.

Whether supporters were at the main event or viewing the exhibition remotely, artwork could be engaged with via QR codes and smart URL links online.

They saw over 40,000 interactions with their digital exhibition across the country! No one wants to miss out in 2022, so take a look at these 5 hybrid fundraising ideas and connect with even more supporters.

Conclusion

Virtual fundraisers are here to stay, and for good reason; they’re quick to implement, easy to run, and reach supporters all over the internet. They are also the behind-the-scenes element working in your favour.

Virtual fundraising will give supporters more memorable, engaging and fun ways to interact with you wherever they are. A virtual fundraiser that is mobile-friendly will give you control over your outcomes. This is because supporters can reach the content they need straight away. For example a marketing opt-in, form-fill, or event sign up.

Incorporating a cashless donation experience to your virtual events is a great start. You can get up and running straight away via Good Thyngs Core.